Beep! Beep! Beep! The clock reads 4:30 am. It may still be dark out, but it’s time to get up to get ready for a long and productive practice. With early morning workouts and twice daily practice most days, the swim team training schedule may seem grueling to the non-swimmer but it is all worth it for freshman Leah Inman as she pops out of bed all set for practice. With swim season starting up again, there are many new exciting things to come.
This year, new to the girl’s varsity swim team, Inman is looking forward to a successful high school swim season ahead of her.
Since she was seven years old, swimming has been a major part of her life. Starting out at a summer league at Rockbrook, Inman developed a strong passion for swimming. She has now been swimming competitively for six years and swims at Swim Omaha.
“I love everything about it. I can’t imagine what I’d do without swimming because I’ve always done it,” Inman said.
Over the summer, much of Inman’s weekends consisted of competing at swim meets where she swam several freestyle events including the 50m, 100m, and 200m. Many of these meets were out of state and took place in states including North Dakota, Minnesota, and Missouri.
One of the biggest meets she competed in was the 2024 USA Swimming Futures Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Inman broke the record for the fastest time ever in the 13 and 14 year old girls 100 meter freestyle for Midwestern Swimming. Midwestern Swimming is one of the 59 Local Swim Committees of USA Swimming that includes Nebraska and part of western Iowa.
“Breaking records is an extremely exciting feeling. It is a big accomplishment and makes me very proud. It keeps me motivated to keep working and to do even better in the future,” Inman said.
To be able to compete and excel at this high level, Inman pours extensive amounts of time and effort into her sport. With practice every day, she is able to keep pushing to get better.
“It’s something that she wants to do. She wants to be at practice. She wants to be pushed hard. She wants to excel and it is who she is,” head swim coach Andy Cunningham said.
This dedication has paid off as Inman qualified for a large national meet called Junior Nationals (JNATS). In early August, Inman qualified in the 50 meter freestyle at the 2024 14 and under Central Zone Long Course Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. JNATS will take place in December in Austin, Texas.
“I am very excited to go to the meet. It is the biggest meet I’ve ever been to, so it’s pretty nerve racking and intimidating, but I know that I am good enough to be there so that helps me not get too nervous,” Inman said.
Inman has received lots of support and encouragement for her passion for swimming as she pushes herself to reach new goals.
“My brother believes in me a lot and all of my coaches are very helpful and they’re all very motivating,” Inman said.
With the high school season starting up, Inman is excited for a fun and successful season ahead of her.
“Leah is coming in as one of the top female swimmers in the state as a freshman. Her club times that she is carrying in from this fall are some of the top times that would have placed or medaled last year at state,” Cunningham said.
As Inman continues to progress through her swim journey at MN, she hopes to drop some time on her events and do well at state which will take place in February.
“I’m excited to see where she goes. High school season makes so many of us faster and she’s already improving all the time, so seeing that will be super exciting. I’m ready to cheer her on,” junior Morgan Jacobson said.
The future is bright for Inman. With her dedication and passion for swimming, she will continue to achieve and reach new successes this season.